Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-03-03
THE ARM0RED RAM.
An EXPERT DECLARES IT TO BE
THE COMING VESSEL.

Proper Construction Of an Efficient Ram,
and the Great Advantages IL Would
Wa ships.
'If the limit in size has probably been
reached in the construction Of the guns
that throw a projectile weighing a ton,
and IL the limit in armor has probably
been reached in the vessels that measure
- thickness by the foot, and il the ut
most limit OF speed in the unarmored
cruisers with present engines is likely to
b about twenty-one knots, as you say,
whit will he the next thing for govern
ments TO construct for use in war at seas'
asked a reporter who had been talking
with a naval officer about modern war
ships.
"Armored rams" he replied. "The
ram has been neglected for years in the
face for superiority between armor and
guns, but the usefulness Of an armored
ram in defending a port against the at
tacks Of an enemy must o attract at
tention once more, and then we will have
Q discussion ON the proper model and
power TO be given such a vessel
AN ERRONEOUS BELIEF.
at is commonly believed that all mod
en war vessels are built with bows con-
structed strong enough to ram an enemy"
wa suggested.
"Yes, but the belief is for the most part
II is true that the lines Of the
stems of the ships project out to a sharp
angle below the water line, and that the
plates and framing Whereabouts are
stronger than in other parts of the ship.
II n Of these ships should happen to hit
bow ON another one in the side il would
probably make q hole in her, but there is
every reason to believe that the vessel
striking would be about as seriously dam
aged as the vessel struck, particularly
II the latter were running Mt full speed
when struck. The attacking vessel would
get its nose twisted of, and perhaps she
would be rolled clear over just as the coal
schooner was that rammed the Oregon.
Neither the unarmored cruiser nor the
heavy armored harbor defense war ship is
adapted for a ram Tie cruiser is not strong
enough for one thing, and has not beam
enough for another. Besides, a big shell
from the enemy wolld destroy her before
she got gear enougl to ram. The armored
wal ship is so big md unwicldy that she
could only hope a. ram an enemy through
q piece of good luck. The shape Of the
bows Of these vessels is all wrong for
ramming. As ] said, the ram on them is
simply a knuckle joint in the stem. A
cross section through this part Of the yes-
eel would show that it was much better
adapted to stand a strain above or below
than from either side. Now a ram must
needs stand a vertical strain, for in a sea-
way, as she and the enemy pitched and
rolled about, the ram would be apt to
plunge down into the enemy's side with a
meat axe stroke, but it must be remem-
bered that the enemy is sure to be in mo-
uon, probably going ahead at full speed,
and that the side wrench that she give the
ram would be much more disastrous than
any resistance Of her side plating. II is
difficult for a landsman to conceive the
awful strain which the ram would receive
- the two vessels rolled and plunged to-
gether in a seaway.
RAMS PROBE FORM.
"The proper form for the bow OF n ram
70 a modification of a duck bill, wider than
- 10 hOtPt WIN oNoui w Siii thSto VII
each side. Then as the enemy rushed by,
dragging the ram along with her, the
broad nose IL the ram would simply rip
the whole side out OF the strongest ship
made, and she'd sink like a lead with her
next roll. The destructive force Of a pro-
jectile weighing n ton, when moving with
an initial velocity OF 1000 feet, IL awful,
but the power Of a projectile weighing
5000 tons moving at twenty-one knots an
hour is almost infinitely greater. The
shot may miss the mark, SO may the ram;
but the ram is an animated prujectile that
a try and try again.
But where would the ram be II the
enemy's ton projectile struck it,
fright on its way for the enemy. A
well built ram would expose only a steel
turtle back above the water. This could
be made so thick that it would resist any
projectile, particularly as the projectile
must necessarily strike it mt such an angel
as TO glance OF. The ram would not he
safe from attack beyond p~eralventure,
but its chances OF coming ont III a conflict
uninjured would be much more numerous
than those of any other form OF vessel.
She would have no gun turrets nor other
exposed or angular parts 10 stop "A pro-
jectile. A torpedo might reach her, hut
the chances would he against that. de-
signed only for coast defense, the ram
would need 10 carry but a small amount
of coal. She would not he Numbered up
with guns and their attendant machinery
and ammunition. Her sole mission is 20
run rapidly and to turn quickly, so as to
keep bow OF TO the enemy. She would
have 10 he broad enough 10 give stability
70 carry the weight Of her steel deck and
70 carry powerful engines and screws. She
would be cheap 10 build, safe TO handle,
and thoroughly effective in time OF battle.
We ought to begin TO discuss the plans Of
anew ram, TO lie built for use solely as a
ram. New York Sun.